Method and apparatus for vibrating railroad rails and the like



Sept. 28, 1937. L. LfRICHARDSON ET AL 2,094,281

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING RAILROAD RAILS AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1934 F 3 L617 1.. mom/e060! ALfiC/B 7' FcucHT 1 INVENTOR BY e ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING RAILROAD RAILS AND THE LIKE poration of Ohio Application May 22, 1934, Serial No. 726,958

3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to a vibrating apparatus, but more particularly to a portable apparatus for vibrating railroad rails or the frame work of steel reinforced concrete construction during the pouring of the concrete to assure its proper adhesion and cause substantially all voids in the concrete or other plastic material to be eliminated.

One object of this invention is to produce a relatively light and simple vibrating machine which can readily be secured to and. removed from the work.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for vibrating railroad rails with a clamping device adapted to secure the machine to the rail irrespective of'the cross sectional shape of the latter.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing which illustrates the invention in conjunction with a railroad rail:

Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the vibrating machine secured to a grooved type of railroad rail.

Fig. 2 is a View similar'to Fig. 1 illustrating the machine secured to a T type of rail.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawing in which like symbols designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, In represents the cylinder of the machine having reciprocable therein a piston II, the latter being formed with a stem 12 having a neck l3 of smaller diameter. Secured within the rear end of the cylinder, there is a valve block l4 and a valve cap l5 which are accurately machined to receive, in fluid tight engagement therewith, a fluid inlet control valve it. The valve block l4 and valve cap l5 are clamped in their respective positions by a back head ll secured to the machine by a pair of bolts IS. The head ll is provided with an internal enlarged chamber l9 terminated by a smaller chamber 20, the latter being capable of receiving, in fluid tight engagement therewith, the end portion of the piston stem l2. Secured to the back head H, in screw threaded engagement within a connecting boss 2|, there is a throttle valve 22 to which a pressure fluid conveying conduit may be attached for admitting pressure fluid into the chamber I9. From this last chamber pressure may be admitted into the rear end of the cylinder l0 through a plurality of ports 23 and 24, and to the front end portion of the cylinder through a plurality of ports 25, while the pressure fluid from the cylinder may exhaust therefrom through the exhaust port 26. The front end of the cylinder I ll is closed by a blind plug or spacer 21 being held therein against longitudinal movement by a front head 28 secured in position by the bolts l8.

Located below the cylinder it), there is a plate like member 29 extending thereto from the front head 28. This plate member is of a width substantially equal to the external diameter of the cylinder Ill and is terminated by a laterally disposed apertured boss 30, having a shaft 3| rotatable therein. Pivotally mounted on both ends of the shaft 31, there is a pair of arms 32 extending therefrom, in straddle relation with the cylinder if], to a place above the latter. The outer end portions of the arms 32 are conveniently machined to form a transversally disposed apertured lug 33 adapted to receive a shaft 34 rotatably secured therein by cotter pins 35. Intermediate its ends, the shaft 34 is also journaled within the apertured lug 36 constituting the end of a shaft or rod 37, which is longitudinally movable within another apertured lug 38 extending upwardly from the back head ll. The other end portion of the rod 31 is threaded to receive, in screw threaded engagement therewith, a handle 39 capable of abutting engagement with the left end wall of the lug 38. Engaging the other end wall of the lug 38, there is one end of a compression spring 40 having its other end seated against a collar 4| formed on the rod 31. The lower portions of the arms 32 extending therefrom to a place below the shaft 3|, are properly shaped to constitute an inclined movable jaw 42, capable of engagement with the rail 43. Depending from the plate 29, there is a duality of inclined stationary jaws 44 and 45, the former being somewhat longer than the latter. Intermediate the jaws 42 and 44, the plate 29 is provided with a transversally disposed groove 46. Extending upwardly from the front head 28 to a place above the cylinder Hi, there is a handle 41, which may be grasped by the operator together with the screw handle 39 for lifting the machine and transporting the latter about the work.

The novel idea of providing the jaws 44 and 45, permits the machine to be secured to the grooved type of rail as well as the T type, without necessitating the use of different clamps or jaws. In Fig. 1, it will be seen that the jaw 45 is in engagement with the rail, while the jaw 44 is simply located within the groove of the rail out of engagement with the latter. In Fig. 2, the jaw 44 is shown engaging the T rail, while the jaw 45 is well away from the latter.

Referring now more particularly to the method of securing the machine to the rail, the operator will first cause the opening of the jaw 32 by rotating the handle 39 in a counterclockwise direction. The compression spring Q9 interposed between the lug 38 and the collar M will push the rod 31 and arms 32 away from the back head ll, thus causing the opening movement of the jaw G2. Subsequently the machine may simply be positioned on the rail transversally to the latter, and may preliminarily be secured thereto against its own weight by rotating the handle 39 in a clockwise direction. Due to the screw threaded engagement of the handle 39 with the screw portion of the rod 31, this rotary motion of the handle 39 will cause the movement of the rod 3'! and arms 32 toward the left and the consequential rightward or clamping movement of the jaw 42. Subsequently, the throttle valve 22 may be turned in a partly open position allowing a restricted amount of pressure fluid in the chamber 89 which will cause a partial reciprocation of the piston i l. The slight jars or vibrations imparted to the machine due to the reversal of the piston strokes therein, will be sufficient to cause the proper seating of the machine on the rail. While the ma-- chine is thus vibrated, additional pressure may be applied on the handle 39 to rigidly fasten the machine on the rail. Subsequently, the throttle valve may be turned in full open position for admitting the full amount of pressure fluid into the chamber i9 and cause the normal reciprocation of the piston i l.

The groove 46 is provided to permit the engagement of the edge portions thereof with the rail, thus constituting, with the jaws 42 and :4 or 45-, a four line engagement of the machine with the rail, or a clamping device comprising a duality of internal V-shaped jaws opposed to each other and equipped with means for effecting the clamping action of the jaws to the rail. The jaws are long enough to extend below the lower edges of the enlarged portion of the rail which they engage, thus providing an efiicient clamping device preventing the relative rocking movement of the machine with the rail during the normal operation of the former.

The action of the piston l i within the cylinder I2, is substantially the same as the action of the piston illustrated and described in the United States Patent No. 1,874,063, and since such action does not form a part of the present invention, no further description is thought necessary other than pointing out that the piston ll is automatically reciprocated within the cylinder Iii. Due to the reversal of the piston strokes, jars or vibrations are imparted to the cylinder iii, and therefrom to the work to be vibrated through the clamping mechanism above described.

it will be noticed that since the machine is transversally secured to the rail, the vibrations imparted to the machine, due to the reversal of the piston stroke therein, will transmit a lateral vibration to the rail, causing thereby the concrete or cement poured on the side of the base of the rail to flow thereunder and adhere thereto in a manner preventing the formation of air or water pockets. The clamping screw and handle 38 being also located transversally of the rail, or more specifically, being located in longitudinal relation with respect to the machine, the vibrations imparted to the latter will not cause the rotation of the handle in a direction tending to loosen the jaws 42, as it would occur if the Vibrations were transversal to the handle.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order to completely set forth the invention, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, the machine and its appurtenances may well be used in conjunction with other work without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

We claim:

1. A vibrating portable tool comprising a horizontally disposed housing having a power actuating vibrating element movable therein for imparting vibrations thereto, a mechanism associated with said housing by which the latter may be secured in horizontal operative position to the work to be vibrated, said mechanism including a stationary jaw rigidly secured to Said housing and engageable with the work for transmitting vibrations thereto, a movable jaw located under said housing in opposition to said stationary jaw, a screw connected to said movable jaw, manually operable means located beyond one end of said housing and operatively associated with said screw for causing the movement of said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw, and resilient means associated with said movable jaw for effecting the movement thereof away from said stationary jaw.

2. A vibrating portable tool comprising a horizontally disposed housing having a power actuated vibrating element movable therein for imparting vibrations thereto, a mechanism attached to said housing and cooperating therewith for transmitting vibrations to the work, said mechanism including a duality of jaws located under said housing in opposition to each other by which said housing may be clamped in horizontal position to the work, a screw above said housing connected to at least one of said jaws, and means operatively associated with said screw capable of rotation for eifecting the movement of one of said jaws toward the other jaw.

3. A vibrating portable tool including a power actuated vibrating unit, a manually operable clamping mechanism carried by said unit in a manner whereby the latter may be operatively secured in horizontal position to the work to be vibrated, said mechanism comprising a duality of work clamping jaws cooperating with said unit for transmitting vibrations to the work, and actuable means operatively associated with at least one of said jaws for efiecting the clamping action thereof.

LED L. RICHARDSON. ALBERT FEUCI-IT. 

